The final piece of funding for the £2 million development at Becket's Park was put in place yesterday and work is now expected to start on the project in January.

Northampton Borough Council's cabinet member for the environment Councillor Trini Crake (Lib Dem, Boughton Green) said: "We're striving to take Northampton forward as a special and distinctive place.

"And for too long the River Nene has been a fantastic natural asset that the town seemed to have forgotten.

"The marina will be something everyone can enjoy, bringing visitors to the town and creating opportunities."

Funding for the project has been supplied by the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) and the Environment Agency and yesterday, Northamptonshire County Council agreed to give more than £204,000 to the project.

Councillor Heather Smith, the county council's cabinet member for the environment and growth, said: "This is a very important step forward for this project which aims to transform the riverfront, making it an extremely pleasant place in which to be, while at the same time providing a focus for the boating community."

Once it is completed, the marina will provide moorings for more than 80 boats and is expected to become a regional centre for the boating community.

It is hoped work on the marina could be completed by March 2011. Further work to improve the park is then planned, including the creation of riverside cafes and restaurants, a new bridge, a coffee shop, a spa and fitness suite and one or more water taxis.

Becket's Park would also be improved by the creation of a boat and cycle hire business and a tourism centre, but the later phases of work are not expected to be completed until 2013 or 2014.